Radar Scope was one of Nintendo's first arcade video games, a space shooter with a pseudo-3D third-person perspective. While a hit in Japan, it was unpopular overseas. The popular worldwide hit Donkey Kong was based on its hardware.

Radar Scope became a hit in Japan, but failed to attract significant interest outside of Japan. Shigeru Miyamoto, who had worked on Radar Scope, then developed Donkey Kong, and Nintendo converted unused Radar Scope cabinets into units for the new game. While Donkey Kong proved to be a smash success, Radar Scope has otherwise become a footnote in the company's history.